[based on the fanfic “touch like velvet” written by ‘ciders’ on ao3]hawkins, indiana; 1988. (will byers and mike wheeler never met au, no upside down au, they still go to the same school, will is still friends with dustin henderson and lucas sinclair. eleven doesn’t exist, max isn’t friends with the party, and neither is mike.)wills parents, joyce and lonnie, divorced when will was in freshman year of high school, he flits in between houses every other week. obviously prefers being at his moms, as his father lonnie is a alcoholic piece of shit. wills 18th birthday has recently passed, and he’s counting down the days until he’s finally all saved up and ready to leave his fathers house. will knows he’s gay, just like he knows the sky is grey(let’s be real, there’s not many sunny days in hawkins). none of his friends or family know this of course, his father has always suspected, something lonnie has berated will for since the beginning, always throwing slurs. one day, after an argument with his father, wills rides out late into town, to the only place still open at almost 10 at night, honey’s diner. wills sits with his sketchpad, a coffee, and in walks the most beautiful boy he’s ever seen. hes got this indie grunge kinda vibe going on.. lanky, shaggy soft dark curls, a light dusting of freckles, face all sharp angles, yet somehow incredibly gentle. what will doesn’t expect, is for this boy to sit down in wills booth, right across from him. he’s charming, crude, and god.. is will BLUSHING?? meet mike wheeler, wills new fake boyfriend. mike orders a vanilla milkshake (seriously? who picks vanilla instead of chocolate? …well wills gonna find out why, soon). mike scoots wills’ still hot coffee mug out of the way, tells will that he’s now his pretend boyfriend, and in walks liza fring, blonde, prissy, uber popular.. soon to be mikes ex girlfriend. she storms over, confronts mike, he’s plays it cool, says he’s done with her. she tells him “ you are NOT breaking up with me, especially not because you think you’re a quee-“ and stops short, eyes falling on will. mike tells her that he is in fact breaking up with her, because will is his gay boyfriend, and he fucks him way better than she ever could, which earns him a slap, and earns will a cold, vanilla milkshake splashed ALL over his shirt, and liza storms out. and thus begins will and mikes “fake” relationship. mike has to leave, but writes his number in wills sketchbook.